Eben Etzebeth close to ban return after Alex Mann eye-gouge

The Springbok lock has been sidelined since South Africa’s 73–0 victory in their final Test of the 2025 season, after being found guilty of eye-gouging Alex Mann.

Since then, Etzebeth has missed 11 matches for the Sharks across both the Investec Champions Cup and the URC.

The clash against Cardiff marks the end of his ban, clearing him to return for next week’s Challenge Cup round-of-16 fixture against Connacht.

There is a degree of irony in his return aligning with the Sharks’ shift into the second-tier European competition, following a disappointing Champions Cup campaign.

Despite winning two matches and finishing just two points behind second-placed Toulouse, they ended fifth in their pool and dropped into the Challenge Cup.

Given their relatively strong European performances, the Sharks will still see themselves as contenders to go deep in the competition and potentially secure silverware this season.

However, their domestic form tells a different story. Currently sitting 11th in the URC, a play-off spot appears unlikely, and without home advantage, they remain long shots for the title.

Compounding matters, the squad, stacked with Springboks, has struggled to deliver consistently, while injuries continue to mount. Key players such as Aphelele Fassi, Bongi Mbonambi, Grant Williams and Siya Kolisi are all currently unavailable.